For a corporation that’s been constructing hybrid vehicles for the reason that late Nineties, Honda has been a bit sluggish to undertake full electrification in its march towards environmentally aware cars. However the automaker’s first severe effort at an EV will arrive subsequent 12 months within the type of the 2024 Honda Prologue, a Passport-sized crossover with a focused vary of 300 miles.
As has been reported earlier than, the Honda shares an Ultium platform and battery with electrical GMs just like the Chevrolet Blazer EV, however the automaker is assured that its distinctive suspension tuning, styling, and cabin shall be sufficient to make sure repeat clients shall be comfy. That battery, by the way in which, will measure 85.0 kilowatt-hours, giving essentially the most environment friendly variations of the Prologue a manufacturer-estimated vary of 300 miles. The crossover EV shall be obtainable in single- and dual-motor variants, and though full powertrain specifics haven’t been launched, the all-wheel-drive model will boast 288 horsepower and 333 pound-feet of torque.
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Max-Influence Minimalist
The 2024 Honda Prologue is roughly as lengthy and as extensive because the Passport, nevertheless it rides on an expansive 121.8-inch wheelbase – up practically a foot over the internal-combustion SUV. That provides the Prologue a planted stance with the wheels stretching means out to the corners and retaining overhangs pleasantly clipped. The outside appears clean and polished, with a good-looking – if a bit nameless – look. Slim headlights, a gloss black grille panel, and refined air curtains on the bumper corners are fashionable and glossy, and the expansive wheelbase results in a trim, tidy rear finish that options the brand new Honda:e typeface on the hatch as an alternative of a brand badge.
The automaker didn’t reveal the Prologue’s drag coefficient, nevertheless it did say that the EX and Touring fashions’ 19-inch wheels and the Elite’s 21s have been optimized to cut back turbulence. Talking of, these bigger alloys are the largest ever fitted to a series-production Honda, filling out the fender arches very properly.
The inside of the Prologue will really feel very acquainted to of us buying and selling in an Accord Hybrid thanks to straightforward Google Constructed-In, which can come on each trim degree of the EV. The 11.0-inch digital gauge cluster and 11.3-inch infotainment show ought to supply spectacular graphics and responsiveness, if our experiences within the Accord are to be believed, and the tech will tie in Google Maps, Assistant, and the Play app retailer proper on the middle display screen.
Honda additionally supplies wonderful storage within the cleanly styled cabin, with open storage beneath the middle console, huge cupholders sized for 32-ounce bottles behind the shift selector, and a large cubby between the entrance passengers that may accommodate tablets and small luggage. House up entrance is respectable, however within the again, taller passengers could take problem with the comparatively scant headroom and lack of thigh assist. With the rear seats up, the Prologue presents 25.2 cubic ft of cargo area, and folding the 60/40 seatbacks flat yields 57.7 cubes. Each numbers are down on the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Volkswagen ID.4, nonetheless.
(Zero-Emissions) Energy To The Folks
The one-motor Prologue shall be front-wheel drive, and though Honda hasn’t specified its energy output, the automaker did say that the bottom powertrain will seemingly have the very best vary and effectivity, particularly mixed with the EX and Touring trims’ smaller wheels. With 288 hp and 333 lb-ft coming from the all-wheel-drive variant, the Prologue ought to have moderately spry efficiency, although the dual-motor Ioniq 5 boasts extra grunt at 320 hp and 446 lb-ft and the ID.4 will get 330 hp and 339 lb-ft.
Within the case of essentially the most environment friendly Prologue configuration, Honda estimates the 85.0-kWh battery shall be good for 300 miles of vary – all-wheel drive and bigger wheels could drop that quantity to round 260. As soon as the battery runs dry, house owners can recharge with an at-home station that gives 11.5 kilowatts, giving the Prologue a possible 0-100-percent time of lower than eight hours. A 7.6-kW transportable charging package can be obtainable.
House owners in a rush may make use of the DC cost fee of 155 kW – a disappointing quantity given the ID.4 can hit 170 kW and the Ioniq 5 can settle for 220 kW. The Blazer EV and Cadillac Lyriq can recharge at 195 kW, so it’s doable GM is saving essentially the most spectacular Ultium tech for itself. When utilizing DC quick charging, the Prologue can add 65 miles of vary in 10 minutes.
Honda will present one in all three totally different charging options to Prologue patrons. The primary is an 11.5-kW at-home charger, together with a $500 set up incentive and $100 charging credit score. The second is a 7.6-kW transportable charger, in addition to a $250 set up incentive and $300 public charging credit score. Lastly, of us who don’t have any want of a house charger can go for a $750 charging credit score as an alternative. By the way in which, Honda and 6 different automakers are a part of a three way partnership that goals to construct 1,350 high-power charging stations nationwide by 2030, the primary of which can come on-line early subsequent 12 months.
The First Of Many
Honda is aiming for 100% zero-emissions automobile gross sales by the 12 months 2040, so it’s clear that the Prologue is barely the beginning. In actual fact, in 2025, the automaker will debut one more EV primarily based by itself brand-specific “e: Structure” platform, which can doubtlessly be constructed on the new EV Hub facility in Marysville, Ohio.
Coming early subsequent 12 months, the primary of that EV onslaught is the trim and attractively styled Prologue, with a focused beginning value within the high-$40,000 vary that places it proper within the hunt of the the $45,290 Volkswagen ID.4 Professional and the $46,835 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Lengthy Vary. For that value, the Prologue proprietor will get customary Honda Sensing, together with adaptive cruise management with stop-and-go and lane centering, blind spot monitoring, lane departure prevention, and low-speed cross site visitors monitoring. Different requirements embody the Google Constructed-In suite, heated entrance seats, and wi-fi gadget charging.
Middling inside area and a ho-hum cost fee could maintain the Prologue again considerably in opposition to the extra spacious Ioniq and ID.4 though its Honda-typical wonderful ergonomics could win a couple of VW trade-ins. And its EV credentials are way more spectacular than Toyota’s phoned-in (albeit cheaper) Toyota bZ4X. Nonetheless, the Honda’s preliminary specs really feel decidedly middle-of-the-road, not class-leading.
The Prologue’s debut makes us most excited for that aforementioned 2025 EV, although, which Honda says shall be a mid- to large-size automobile. Given the automaker’s previous historical past of wonderful engineering and packaging, plus the fashionable design of the corporate’s first long-range EV, that subsequent product has some severe potential. Till then, the Prologue will maintain the fort, lastly giving Honda a strong crossover providing with zero emissions.